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Support the call for a
CANADIAN DEMOCRACY ENDOWMENT

Apathy is Boring, together with leading organizations in the democracy sector, invites individuals and organizations to endorse the proposal for the creation of a Canadian Democracy Endowment — a permanent, non-partisan, arm’s-length funding mechanism to build and sustain the civic infrastructure necessary for a strong, sovereign, and future-ready democracy for the long term. 

Canada’s democracy is under strain. Public trust in institutions is declining. Disinformation, polarization, and foreign interference are growing. Political participation remains uneven. And many Canadians increasingly struggle to see how they can meaningfully engage with democratic systems or shape decisions that affect their lives.

This proposal is not about partisan politics or ideology. It is about maintaining the integrity and resilience of the democratic system itself. When people feel they have a say in what government does, they report nearly three times more trust in public institutions than those who feel they don’t. In a time of widespread distrust, strengthening civic capacity is not a symbolic gesture — it is a practical investment in national resilience.

Canada lacks a coherent and sustainable strategy to protect and modernize our democratic infrastructure. Civil society organizations, educators, and community leaders across the country are already doing the work of civic engagement and public trust-building. What’s missing is the long-term investment required to scale that work and address institutional gaps efficiently.

Our Proposal

We are recommending the Government of Canada take two clear steps:

  1. Establish a Canadian Democracy Endowment, with an initial federal investment of $75 million to $200 million, to provide permanent, non-partisan funding for civic infrastructure, applied research, and civil society delivery of public-interest programs.

  2. Launch a national consultation in 2025–26 to co-develop the Endowment’s governance and structure to ensure non-partisanship and sustainability. 

What the Endowment Will Do:

The Canadian Democracy Endowment will:

  • Fund civic infrastructure — including non-partisan education hubs, democratic tools, community engagement networks, and secure information ecosystems;

  • Provide multi-year, operational support for civil society organizations working outside of partisan political environments;

  • Support innovation and applied research in institutional design, democratic engagement, and public accountability;

  • Catalyze matched funding and cross-sector partnerships to strengthen long-term democratic capacity;

  • Enable a coordinated national response to democratic backsliding by resourcing effective, evidence-based solutions already underway across the country.

This initiative aligns with government priorities to invest in Canadians, build modern and responsive institutions, and strengthen Canada’s long-term security and cohesion.

Why Now?

Unlike sectors such as health, culture, or the environment, democracy in Canada has no dedicated infrastructure investment. We lack the institutional backbone required to maintain civic resilience and public trust in the face of modern threats. At the same time, adversaries are investing billions to undermine democracy globally — including here.

The Hague Summit Declaration (June 2025) affirms Canada and its allies commitment to protect critical infrastructure, strengthen preparedness, and build resilience. Investing in democratic infrastructure is part of that responsibility.

A Canadian Democracy Endowment is not a short-term project. It is a structural investment in the institutions, habits, and capacities that protect Canada’s democratic distinctiveness — and ensure that democratic participation, leadership, and innovation are not left to chance.

Your next steps:
Endorse the Proposal

We are building a national coalition in support of this recommendation. To add your name or your organization’s endorsement, please complete the form below. 


Developed with the support of:

  • John Beebe, The Democratic Engagement Exchange
  • Niamh Leonard, The Euphrosine Foundation
  • Amanda Munday, New Majority
  • Chris Beall, Project CONNIE
  • Sabreena Delhon, The Samara Centre for Democracy
  • Michael Wernick, Jarislowsky Chair in Public Sector Management, University of Ottawa

Endorsed by:

  • Felipe Alfaro
  • Habon Ali, Apathy is Boring
  • Maxwell Anderson
  • Steve Anderson, New/Mode
  • James Arruda, James Arruda
  • Umair Ashraf, The Canadian-Muslim Vote
  • Shari Austin, Shari Austin & Company
  • Paul Austin-Menear
  • Michelle Baldwin
  • Alexandra Ballos, The Gravel Road Civics Project
  • Keldon Bester, CAMP
  • Michelle Bilek, Real People Collaboration
  • Karen Bird, Professor of Political Science, McMaster University
  • Natalie Brender, Canadian Public Health Association
  • Shlomit Broder, Digital Public Square
  • Sasha Caldera, IMPACT
  • Max Cameron, University of British Columbia
  • Maddie Case, Democratic Engagement Exchange
  • Lisa Comeau
  • John Comeau
  • André Côté, The Dais @ Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Rani Cruz, Euphrosine Foundation
  • Aiden Cyr, Apathy is Boring Board Member
  • Cristine de Clercy, Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, Trent University, Peterborough Ontario
  • John Delaney
  • Susan Dieleman, Jarislowsky Chair in Trust & Political Leadership, University of Lethbridge
  • Nitzan Diskin
  • Stephanie Donaldson, Ontario Public School Boards' Association
  • Ilona Dougherty, University of Waterloo
  • Katrina Driver
  • Nadia Duguay, Fondation Béati
  • Trish Everett, Simon Fraser University
  • Behrooz Farivar
  • Katie Feenan
  • Paul Fleming
  • Malorie Flon, Institut du Nouveau Monde
  • Stephanie Garrow, Garrow & Evoy, Strategic Clarity
  • Rowan Gentleman-Sylvester, CityHive Youth Engagement Society
  • Daniela Giulietti, YWCA Hamilton
  • Lorea Greene
  • Claire Guiard-Marigny
  • Stephanie Guico
  • Susanna Haas Lyons, Civic Engagement Specialist
  • Steve Hall
  • Trevor Hancock, Conversations for a One Planet Region
  • Wayne Hanna
  • Michelle Hartlaub
  • Andrea Hedley, Community Energy Association
  • Kathleena Henricus
  • Ana Sofía Hibon, Inspirit Foundation
  • Alex Himelfarb, Former Clerk of the Privy Council
  • Sarah Holden
  • Thomas Homer-Dixon, Cascade Institute
  • Rob Hotston
  • Stephen Huddart, Victoria Forum
  • Christoph Ivancic
  • Spencer Izen, Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
  • Kayona Karunakumar
  • Umit Kiziltan
  • Victoria Kuketz, Obama Foundation
  • Jonathan Lapalme, Les Interstices
  • Michelle LeDonne, Pathy Family Foundation
  • Keith Leigh
  • Ben Liu, School of Cities, University of Toronto
  • Katherine Macdonald
  • Michael MacKenzie, Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Vancouver Island University
  • Peter MacLeod, Mass LBP
  • Judith Marcuse, International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC)
  • José Ramón Martí, City of Toronto
  • June Maynard
  • Odette McCarthy, Equitas- International Centre for Human Rights Education- Centre international d'éducation aux droits humains
  • Vanessa McKenzie
  • Allen McLash
  • Matthew Mendelsohn, Social Capital Partners
  • Dave Meslin
  • Anna Miller
  • Murray Mollard, North Shore Community Resources
  • François Morissette, FC Morissette Consulting
  • Amanda Munday, New Majority
  • Courtney Murdoch
  • Carole Muriithi, Pathy Family Foundation
  • Dedric Nelson
  • Anita Nickerson, Fair Vote Canada
  • Hamish Nixon
  • Sarah Outram, PEI Coalition for Women's Leadership
  • Krista Pawley
  • Ash Peplow Ball, Women Transforming Cities
  • Robin Prest, Simon Fraser University's Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue
  • Félix Proulx-Giraldeau, Evidence for Democracy
  • Janis Qavavauq-Bibeau
  • Maiwand Rahyab, Resilient Societies
  • Ramya GN Reddy, The Remembering Project
  • Ben Rowswell, Circle for Democratic Solidarity
  • Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair, Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Pam Ryan, Toronto Public Library
  • Gabe Sawhney, Civic Tech Toronto
  • Zane Schwartz, Investigative Journalism Foundation
  • Tom Servaes
  • Jon Shell, Social Capital Partners
  • Stacie Smith
  • Adam Sommerfeld, The Climate Reality Project Canada
  • Ashley Tardif-Bennett
  • Saba Thackurdeen
  • Salma Tihani, Pathy Family Foundation
  • Aleksi Toiviainen, Vote16 Canada
  • Sylvie Trottier
  • Claire Trottier, Euphrosine Foundation
  • Beatrice Vaugrante, Oxfam-Québec
  • Fabrice Vil
  • Kyle Visvanathan
  • Rachel Wasserman, Wasserman Business Law
  • Tracey Wood
  • Jeff Wood
  • Kathy Wyse
  • Sarah Yaffe, MASS LBP
  • Riley Yesno, Commentator and Writer, The Yellowhead Institute
  • Sadia Zaman, Inspirit Foundation
  • The Civil Society members of Canada’s Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Open Government
  • The McConnell Foundation